Four-cycle gas engine



Patented Sept. 29, i925.

rig-:D Tieres JOHN Konan, or cHrcAeo, ILLINOIS.

FOUR-CYCLE Gas ENGINE.

application meavaugust 16,1922. Seriai fNo. $52,301.

TQ @ZZ whom t may concern n V'Be it .known that I, JOHN Konan, a citi- Zen of the UnitedStates, residing at'Chicage, county of Cook, and State Aof Illinois, have invented a new and useful Four-Cycle Gas Engine, `of which the following is a specification. s

`My invention relates to Vfour cycle gas engines; and the objects of my invention are, rst, Lto dispose `an overhead exhaust valve coaxiallyabove the cylinder and to provide Iin the middle of the exhaust valve a hollow stem land a valved opening to` serve as ya fuel vent whereby the interior-of the valves affords a smooth and rounded passage to the cylinder head and whereby both valves are ycooled by volatilizing the heavier `fuel particles of `the new charge at the very entry to the interior of the cylinder; second, `to arrange screw blades inside said fuel vent for splitting, turning and volatiliz'ing the bottom heavy fuel mixture in slices over warmed surfaces to increase the thoroughness and the turbulence of the mixture; and, third, to provideV athin and uniform layer of air between the combustible charge and the inner wall ofthe cylinder and ,the cylinder head and thereby obtain a costless internal cooling of the engine with prevention of `carbon setting and leakage of fuel around the piston.

`My [invention is exemplified in combination with an upper portion ofa vertical four Acycle gas engine and is illustrated in the acf' companying drawings,in which- Fig. `1 is a vertical, partly sectionalfside view Yof an upper 4portion `of an upright four cycle :gas engine, embdying a simple type df my invention and shownat the beginning of the intake stroke; Fig. 2 is `a complemental modication of Fig. 17 showingthe engine near the end of the exhaust stroke and having a'cam drive with theintake valve and a segregate exhaust pass with a throttle;

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged and partlysectional side view to Fig. 2, as seen in the direction of arrow 3, and ,is showing the engine .at the beginning of the `intake stroke and having a nipple extension 48'and an air .damper and Fig. 4 is a portion of a transverse sectional top view of the engine taken on the line 4-41of Fig. 3. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughoiit the several views. Y

'In vthe .afgana cylinder :and ce -fuel vent is closed.

axially withithe axis 1 `of thecylinder 6lis i anfannular throat 7 with1 a crown, bearing a guidevbox 8 forthetubular stem9 of the puppetfexh'aust valve 10. ,The fuel-port 1l,7 supported by two braces 12 and above the crown andfprovidled witha sideways opening 'for a4 suitable fuell admission has 'a nipple 1'4`telescoping inside'the upper end of the tubular stemto afford a fuel vent into the chamber 15 of the "engine yby an annular y perforation-in the disko'fthe exhaust valve 110. On thelcrown bears a 4helical compression spring 16 to press against thecollar 17 locked by the split ring `18`to the top end 'of the tubular stem whereby the exhaust valve V slices over the surfaceslofthe blades and of the disk of the intake valve 20 whereby the mixture is whirled'into a vortex around the longitudinal axis 1l of .the cylinder `6 to lturn into a -cylindrically rotating form .which elongates behind the receding piston head2?) commonly movable by aV not shown crank shaft of the engine; the movement of the piston head Vis lmarked by `its varying distances fromdthe cylinder head as shown in the respective'iigures. The screw blades absorb heat from .the adjacent valves which are heatedby the fired charge. The 'volatile portion of the charge easilyl turns on the screw-blades `but fiiel droplets pierce Athe bending volatile slices of fuel mixturesand smash on tlie'hot surfacesof the screw blades and of the lintake valvewto completely vaporize into the turbulent volatile charge which thence fuses .centrifugally fin the form of afdownward rotating cylinder within the wall of the chamber 15. 'l y In the wall around the 'throatj is `arranged equidistantly and 'in uniform elevation 4av-plnrality of Vopen air inlets ce-c,

more spaoousfbat ctherwse Similar to the y 'en inlets 0 of the enlarged Fig. 4, and inclined tangentially to the inner periphery of the throat in an anti-clockwise direction so as t0 switch the ingoing air streaks into the chamber 15 by a turning motion over the disk of the exhaust valve which remains partly open after the exhaust stroke for such scant admission of air. From the disk of the exhaust valve the whirling'air then spreads as a thin layer near the walls of the chamber 15 and thereby separates the fuel charge rotating in same direction from lcontact with'the metallic walls of the cylinder, the cylinder head and the piston. .f The circulating motion ofthe layer of air in contact with said metallic wall is indicated by the arrow 24 in Fig. 4, while the arrow 25 indicates the rotation of the cylindricalv form of the fuel mixture: within the'peripherally exterior layer of air.

With undue high speed of the engine the undue suction depressesthe intake-valve 20 to quickly set the spring disk 21 on top of the nave box 19, overloading thereby the exhaust valve that is also pulled down by an unduly high speed suction and then easily widens its gap against the resistance of the spring 16 for admitting a thicker air layer around the fuel charge, while the seated spring disk 21 checks the intake valve against enlarging the fuel admission (see Fig. 1). Thereby a measured limitation of space and travel between spring disk and the top of thenave-box reduces at high speeds the fuel intake and affords a speed limit with -my engine and thereby an economical automatic governing which may be modified by connectingthe stem end of the intake valve with the lower end of the helical extension spring 26, attached to an eyebolt 27, adjustably suspendedabove the fuelpass by a lock nut.

The exhaust with my engine, as shown in Fig. 1, is through the air inlets c-ogthat for such urpose are more numerous and more spacious, than the four air inlets 0-c shown in Fig. 4. c

When the exhaust valve jerks upward from its wide exhaust opening of numeral 10 of Fig. 2 to the scantair charging state 10 of Fig. 1, the intake valve 20-remains for intake in a lowered position partly by its gravitation and by the setting in suction and mainly by theresistance of its own resting momentumh opposing even a strong nave-spring 22.whereby the upward departure of the exhaust valve .from the intake valve automatically opens the fuel vent.

The forked rocker 28 has :-a fulcrum pin 29 bearing on the brace l13; a fork head 30 kactuated by the cam 31; and two prongs 32 and for keeping it partly lowered for the consecutive air intake. The cam 31 moves with the cam shaft 34 mounted on a fixed brace and turned in the direction of the arrow 2 by a suitable transmission from the not sho-wn crank shaft of the engine in half time relation therewith.

rlhe cam 31 has besides its high peak for exhaust also a smaller radius hump, shown engaged in Fig. 1 by the head 30 to keep down the rocker and therewiththe exhaust valve to onlya narrow opening for a scant air admission to form a layer of air between the fuel charge and the interior wall of the cylinder. c

For a more positive timing thestem end of the intake valve 20 in Fig. 2 is connected withl the lengthened eye-bolt 27 movably projecting above the fuel-port 11 and rested by the lock-nut 35 onthe elastic cushion 36 above the lever 37 bearing with one end on a bracket pin 38 and extending its actuated end 39 towards the dual service cam 31, whereby the high peak of the cam raises the lever 37 after intake to close the intake valve 20 from the open intake position shown in Fig. 3; thereafter the intake valve stays closed by internal chamber pressure during the consecutive three cycles to easily dep-art again from the exhaust valve by the suction of the intakel stroke without the obstruction of a suspending spring.

My gas engine of the simplified construction as shown in Fig. l1, can only be used in open air withv unrestricted exhaust escape through the air inlets 'c-c. Where piping away of the deadly exhaust gases is necessary I provide, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the throat 7 with a segregated exhaust pass40 and an outlet 41 adapted for pipe extension. The staffs 42 are over bridging the wide portion of the exhaust pass to serve as slides for the hoop-likethrottle 43 that has above its outer periphery an upturned annular gate-rim 44 externally equal to the inner periphery of the throat; below the inner pe- .i 43. When the exhaust valve opens to release the exhaust gases, as shown in Fig. 2, the gas pressure pushes the throttle upward to telescope over said inverted end of the guide box 8, to seal the air inlets 0, to simultaneously uncover the entire exhaust pass 40, and to compress against the crown yt-hree helical compression springs 47 that after exhaust lil) `quickly' push the throttle-down againhto set @the yspout base `on lthe meanwhile l`partly upwardanoved exhaust valve whereby 'the ex- Ahaust pass is closed by the gate riinllA- and the "upper spout rim is lowered below the guide-"box to open thereunder an annular passnround said `tubular stern for 'letting air into the slots 46, as shown in Fig. 3; the a-ir wvhirls from the tangential air inlets c-.c" centripetally anticloekwise into said annular pass `around the tubular stem4v and turnsthrouglr the slotsVilG into a uniform anticlockwise-fusion over the exhaust valve yand around 'the walls of the chamber 15 whereby thefuel mixture is separated from contact withsaid walls by a thin layer of air. .After intake the throttle is raised by the: closing` exhaust valve and Ithen is `ready ngainfor the next exhaustdrelease.

"Thenipplell of Fig. 8 lhas a downward extension 48 bearing the screw yblades a withthe nave box 19 and the intake valve 20 whereby the weight of theexhaust valve 10 and its area when opening against the exhaust pressure, is reduced below that of thevalve lO. A piston ring 49 around'the end of the `n-ippleextension 4 8 improves Ethe sealing between said extensionand the tubular stein.

The annular air damper 50 surrounds rotatably the upper portion of the throatof Figs/3 `and i and hasfour slits 51 with `dented hoods 56 to register with-the airlinlets 0-0 when `turned awa-y in the direct1o-njof"arrow`57by the pull of the wire on tihelever 53 against the opposing helical extension springI T54, attachedto the stay 55. By slackening the wire-52 the spring 541s set free'to return the damper for sealing' `the air inlets to `thereby reduce or avoid entirely said air admission and enrich the fuel intake during priming of the engine or for other temporary purposes.

vVith the starting rintake stroke "the exhaust'residue is' immediately forced underneath the intake valve 20 to gradually @et 'absorbed by the .vhirli-ng' fuel inixture which turns into a cylindrical form, extending` downward with the cranky 1`ard inotion of the piston head. The base of the downward rotating' cylinder of fuel mixture with its inner influx of residual gas Vand its outer layer of air is continuously introverting dur ing' intake tiine towards the center ofthe piston head `to `turn thereinto a vehement vortex motion and thereby blend intoV a thoroughly `vaporized and turbulent `mixture `when filling' the inner interior of the cylinder, while at the end of the intake stroke o-nly the outer Vthin layer of air around the fuel charge and adherent to the inner inetallie wall of the chamber 15 remains free of fuel and in an incombustible condition to protect the wall against carbon setting and overheating, to prevent leakage of fuel vtional cylinder, vla cyliiider'-iliead havingran faroundithe piston and to expan'd by `the heat `of 1the fire for atfordingrenergy that is votherwise flost byf the usual lexternal cooling systeni.

The` number'of the screw-'blades is `opltional g1 their pitch may 1belreduced and their double decked 4ring` sectors n n?) may be en- 4'lafigecl 'bywidening- -the screw-blades, when a rotationfo'f the fuel vortex rafnd ablessfobstructed charge intake isidesired. The' valves iinaybe actuated by other "ineans,1besides the ones specified, ywithout limiting my invention;

Wllhat I cla-ini `as new and desire to` secure vby Letters Patent, 1s1- il. `In afourcycle gas engine in combinaoverhead iexhaust throat closed by alpuppet exhaust =valfve opening inwardly linto the cylinder, ai hollow vstein and -fa valved -per foration in the middle ofthe stern lof said exhaust k'valve to serve as Aa fuel inlet, a fuel port having a nipple telescoping` within said hollow stein, inthe wall olf said exhaust throat a plurality of Iair inlets, and aneans 'to keep the exhaust valve partlyfopen 'during the intake stroke whereby from said air inlets a thin layer of -air may be 4provided between thefuel charge andthe walls of the cylinder and of the cylinder'head.

2. In "a four cycle gas engine inI combination `a cylinder, a cylinder'head having an overhead exhaust throat closed by a puppet exhaust lvalve opening inwardly into the cylinder, a hollow steniand a valved perfora- Jtionin the 1middle ofthe stein of said exhaust valve to serve asa fuel inlet, a fuel porthaving a nipple telescoping within said hollow `stern, inthe Iwall of said iexhaust throat a plurality oftangentially slantinp,- air inlets, and ineansito keep the exhaust valve partly `open during` the 'intake stroke whereby from said air inlets athin layer ofl air may be pro- Avided'between thefuel charge and the walls of f the cylinder `and of the cylinder head;

:In a four cycle gas engine in combination a cylinder', a cylinder head having` `an overhead lexhaust throat closed `by a puppet exhaust valve opening inwardly into the cylinder Aand therewith coaxially aligned, a hollow -stern and a valved perforation in the middle of the stern of said-exhaust valve to serve as a fuel inlet, a fuel port having a nipple telescoping within said hollow stein, and a plurality of helically inclined screw blades located inside said tubular stem to absorb heat from the tubular stem and from 'llO the exhaust valve and to split and turn the compact fuel mixture yin slices over thus heated surfaces of said screw blades whereby the heavier fuel particles are volatilized and the vapor thereof is thoroughly mixed with the main volatile charge by the warming and turning action of the screw blades.

4. In a vfour cycle gas engine in combination a cylinder, a cylinder head having an overhead exhaust throat closed by a puppet exhaust valve opening'inwardly into the cylinder, a hollow stem and a valved perforation in the middle of the stem of said exhaust valve to serve as a fuelinlet, a fuel port having a nipple telescoping within said hollow stem, a number of helically inclined screw blades located inside said tubular stem to split and turn the compact-fuel mixture in slices over warm surfaces whereby the heavier fuel particles are volatilized and the vapor thereof is thoroughly mixed with the volatile charge in the interior of the cylinder by a turbulent tornado-like action and whereby also the charge is turned into a cylindrically rotating form within the wall of the cylinder, in the wall of said throat a plurality of tangentially slanting air inlets and means to keep the exhaust valve partly open during the intake stroke whereby a uniformly thin layer of air is provided between the rotating fuel charge and the walls of the cylinder and of the cylinder head.

5. In a four cycle gas engine in combination a cylinder, a cylinder head having an overhead exhaust throat closed by a puppet exhaust valve opening inwardly intothe cylinder. a hollow stem and a valved perforation in the middle of the stem of said exhaust valve to serve as a fuel. inlet, a fuel port having a nipple telescoping within said hollow stennmeans to turn the fuel mixture in said fuel inlet, in the wall of said exhaust throat a plurality of air inlets, and means to keep the exhaust valve partlyv open during the intake stroke whereby from saidV air inlets athin layer of air may be provided between the fuel charge and the walls of the cylinder andofthe cylinder head.

6. In a four cycle gas engine in combination a cvlinder, a cylinder head having an overhead exhaust throat closed by a puppet exhaust valve opening inwardly intoY the cylinder, a hollow stem and a valved perforation inthe middle of the stem of said exhaust valve to'serve as a fuel inlet. a fuel port having a nipple telescoping within said hollowstem and extending inside said peiforation in the stem of the exhaust valve, a puppet intake valve to Vclose said nipple and yto open inwardly into said cylinder, and a plurality of helically inclined screw blades affixed to the inside of said nipple to absorb heat from the exhaust valve and to split and turn the fuel mixture in slices over thus heated surfaces of the screw blades for volatilizing the heavier fuel particles into a thoroughly mixed and turbulent fuel charge.

7. In a four cycle gas engine in combination a cylinder, a cylinder head having an overhead exhaust throat closedby a puppet exhaust valve opening inwardly into the cylinder, a hollow stem and a valved perforation in the middle of the stem 'of said exhaust valve to serve as a fuel inlet, a fuel port having a nipple telescoping within said hollow stem, a cam actuated rocker to open the exhaust valve and to reduce the opening during the intake stroke, and a plurality of tangentially slanting air inlets in the wall of said exhaust throat, wherebyy a thin layer of air may be provided between the fuel charge and the walls of the cylinder and the cylinder head.

S. In a four cycle gas engine in' combination a cylinder, a cylinder head having an overhead exhaust throat closed by a puppet exhaust valve opening inwardly into the cylinder, a hollow stem and a valved perforation in the middle of the stem of said exhaust valve to serve as a fuel inlet, a fuel port having` ay nipple telescoping within said hollow stem, in the wall of said exhaust throat a plurality of tangentially slanting airinlets, means to keep the exhaust valve partly open during the intake stroke whereby from said air inlets a thin layer of air may be provided between the fuel charge and the walls of the cylinder and of the cylinder head, an exhaust pass from the throat below said air inlets, and a movable throttle within said throat to alternately close andopen said exhaust pass and said air inlets.

9.l In a four cycle gas engine in combination a cylinder, a cylinder head having an overhead exhaust throatclosed by a puppetexhaust valve opening inwardly into the cylinder, a hollow stem and a valved perforation in the middle of the stem of said exhaust valve to serve as a fuel inlet, a fuel port yhaving a nipple telescoping within said hollow stem, in the wall of said exhaust throat a plurality of tangentially slanting air inlets, means to keep the exhaust valve partly `open during the intake stroke whereby from said air inlets a thin layer of air may be provided between the fuel charge and tle walls of the cylinder and of the cylinder head. and a damper to said air inlets.l

` JOHN KONAR 

